PSDAP in Yunan, P.R. China

The PSADP project was funded by the British Embassy in Beijing. It is intended to disseminate the Agenda 21 Process; the concept and principle of sustainable development on the public level in Yunnan Province. As the local partner, Yunnan EcoNetwork had already held more than 20 activities such as holding seminars, photo exhibition and media activity in the different regions in Yunnan Province over the past several years.

The phrase of “sustainable development” is familiar to many people since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. However, as the PSDAP began its work on 21 July at Yunnan University, it became evident that a majority of the public, including students and faculty members, did not clearly understand the concept of the sustainable development. This lack of understanding must be remedied because Yunnan Province is on the battle between preserving the environment and ameliorating the condition of people living in poverty, the outcome having significance for the entire world. PSDAP has begun to let us know where we are in this battle, spreading knowledge about sustainable development.

The key point is that the lack of overall awareness of the concept and principle of SD lies not only in public, but the government officials as well. —Hope for the Johannesburg forumPMT Chairman, PSDAP: Chen Yongsong

YEN is a network with a mission to recognize and affirm that the ecological and cultural resources of Yunnan are of global significance. The network consists of individuals, organizations, projects and institutions working together to protect and conserve these resources. YEN is a non-profit network initially started by members of different international co-operation projects in Yunnan, working on environmental issues and sustainable development during 1998.

The office is located at room 301, unit 2, Building 2, Chahuayuan

Beichen Residential Quarters 650224

Yunnan Province, People's Republic of

China

Tel/ Fax. 0086-871-5737890

Email coordinator@yunnaneconetwork.net, everpine@public.km.yn.cn

Website: www.yunnaneconetwork.net

Target groups

The project has the following main target groups:

and does not target the governmental institutions and decision makers per se, though it is expected that the project will also have an indirect influence on provincial level decision making in the future.

※21 July, 2001

“The 1st Student Seminar on Promotion of Sustainable Development Action Plan”

University faculties and students for the first time to have the chance to learn about the Rio Earth Summit, and discuss issues related to the Agenda 21 Process and the principle of sustainable development.

Mr. Chen Yongsong, YEN Coordinator and PMT Chairman of PSDAP, was invited by the U.S Department of State to join the International Visitor Program in the United States. Volunteerism was introduced into the PSDAP project after his return.

※27 November 20, 2001

The cooperative action between PSDAP and the Science & Education Division, Yunnan Daily newspaper brought journalists and project implementers /managers together, sharing with audiences through various medias the necessity of foreign technological and financeial assistance in Yunnan; different methodologies and channels were explored the goal to achieve sustainable utilization of natural resources and environmental protection; etc. (1 photo ) Mr. Yang Zelin was on the interview with project officers from Sino-German GTZ XSBN project

The activity was sponsored by PSDAP and organized by HUAN QING SHE, Yunnan University. Red beak sea gulls migrate south from Siberia each winter to Kunming City. Thousands of the white birds bring happiness to the citizens of Kunming. The birds love Kunming because of the hospitality of citizens who have been watching and feeding them with food for many years. The activity helped citizens to correctly choose food and protect the birds. (1-2 photos)

“Protect Mother River and Dianchi Lake – We are taking Action”.

The photo exhibition was held at four carefully chosen points aling the Pan Long Jian River, mother river of Kunming City, reaching different groups of audiences at each site, who viewed the exhibition and gave their opinion concerning pollution on the river.

Note: Dianchi Lake is one of the sixth largest fresh water lakes in China. (6 photos)

“The Seminar on Protection of Black-Neck Cranes and Their Habitats through Farmer Community Development in Yunnan and Tibet”

A group of local volunteers initiated the protection of black-neck cranes for approximately 10 years in a mountainous region called Dashanbao. It is a poverty stricken region, where “farmers fight for food from Cranes”, a long and bitter story known far and near. The volunteers began to take initiative first steps to protect the birds with the help of local farmers. They participated the workshop and came to believed that this would be one of the best opportuneities to protect black-neck cranes and their habitats with the development of farmer communities. (3 photos)

“The International Seminar on Simao Rural Environment & Health Sustainable Development ---Taking Biogas as A Bridge for the Building of Bio- Village”

Participants are aiming to achieve a rural bio sustainable environment by implementing “3-combination ” in rural mountainous areas in Simao City. (3-combination is a kind of household facility with multiple functions, an initiative to achieve a comprehensive effect for poor villages. It is built up with a combination of pigsty (1), toilet (2), biogas produce container (3), so that the complex will automatically produce biogas and achieve an efficient recycling of waste). (3 photos)

Note: Simao is considered as a biogas city among 120 counties/cities in Yunnan Province with a rate of biogas users up to 80%.

“Let's Strive for A Cleaner Jinghong City. — A sustainable development promotion seminar in Xishuangbanna Dai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture”

Students, experts and officials participated in a discussion concerning sustainable development issues in Xishuangbanna. Proposals for first steps to be taken in Jinghong City include building awareness among both local citizens and tourists from outside Xishuangbanna. (3 photos)

The Naxi cuolture, recorded in pictographs almost 800 years old, was explored by Naxi scholars and other interested individuals. Differing opinions and the progresss of studies concerning this tiny culture were discussed and shared. The traditional Naxi culture can stand as a positive example of environmentally sustainable living for future generations of its people. (1 photo)

A Seminar on Building up Public Awareness Among Students To Achieve A Sustainable Wildlife Protection and Animal Welfare In Wenshan Prefecture

International wildlife protection includes animal welfare. The lack of this knowledge sometimes may cause trouble. Participants, especially those members from local Wildlife Protection Association of Wenshan Ethnic Teacher's School had benefited from the activity. (2 photos)

“An International Seminar on Sustainable Development of the Yangtze River Basin”

The upper reaches of Yangtze River are an important ecological area having a profound influence on the environmental health of the waters of China. Efforts undertaken for the conservation and rehabilitation of the ecosystem on the upper reaches of the Yangtze are of vital importance to alleviate natural disasters to maintain the ecological balance of the Yangtze River watershed, to ensure the ecological security of the whole nation, and to achieve China's socioeconomic development goals. Despite great efforts by governmental entity at various levels and of the people living in the Yantze watershed, the quality of the environment continues to degrade at an ever accelerating rate. The paramount challenge we face is to arrest the degradation of the Yantze watershed conservation of the ecosystem versus economic development are parts of a trade-off necessary to balance the interest of the various Yantze watershed stakeholders. Currently an effective mechanism to balance these conflicting interests is lacking. The seminar provided a forum for the public to contribute their input concerning sustainable development of the Yantze. More than thirty senior faculty members from the universities of Tianjing, Shanghai, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Tibet, Yunnan, and 120 other attendees including representatives from local government departments, institutes enterprises, NGOs and members of the media participated in the seminar.

Participants called for the institutionalization of a system for all people to participate in the conservation and rehabilitation of the Yantze River basin ecosystem.

Participants proposed the formation of the forum of the Yantze River Basin Sustainable Development by universities from the southwestern provinces. The forum will function as an information exchange center and will help formulate appeals to the government in regard to water related environmental issues.

“A Student Seminar on Sustainable Development

—A Sapling Caring Action Plan (Short for ASCAP)”

As the PSDAP project proceeded more people became involved in the discussion of social issues. Most of them agree with the old adage that says, ”actions speak louder than words.” As a result over one hundred students from nine universities participated in the July first discussion about how to put sustainable development into practice during their summer holidays. They proposed taking their sapling caring action plan to 1.5 million students and pupils around Yunnan in order to share the results at the WSSD held in Johannesburg, South Africa 26 August to 4 September 2002.

l l We affirm that man belongs to the earth not the earth belongs to man

l l We affirm that the principle of Sustainable Development is always subject to proof by our action l l We affirm that with our strong belief and firm stand we can make a green planet

……Our fellow students, a sapling seems invisible, it symbolizes a start and an endless hope by turning a tree into a forest and a forest converges a sea of green lives. We believe we are taking an meanness action, an action, which will bring change to our daily life and ideology Let's feel proud of the action to which we are committed and promoted with tribulation and rejoicing from its start towards fruitful 21^st century. Let the action tell the world we love our homeland, we care about the fate of the earth and the future of man. And sustainable development is our only choice.

“Participation of WSSD”

Mr. Chen Yongsong, YEN coordinator and PMT Chairman of PSDAP, joined an NGO delegation organized by Global Village Beijing to attend Johannesburg Summit on WSSD

※25 September, 2002

Student Workshop on A Sapling Caring Action Plan

University students and middle school pupils in

China

have long been in the forefront of positive change in advance of official governmental institutions The sapling action plan will help students, poor framers and the whole of society. Close attention was given to progress made by students during their summer vacations based on the proposal at 1 July 2002. Student representatives gave reports and an action plan was formulated to create a feasible long term plan.

※November, 2002

Regional Workshop on the Follow-Up of WSSD

Experts from relevant universities proposed new initiatives on the further development of the Western Regions of China at a two-day regional workshop.

※November, December, 2002

Updating YEN website

All information will be updated in line with the output of WSSD.

Expectation & Outlook

Through the implementation of this project university students, middle school attendees, the wider civil society, and to some extent the private sector have been made aware of the relevance of Agenda 21 and the concern for safe-guarding the future of succeeding generations. The project does not seek to directly work with or influence government institutions but rather performs a supportive role attempting to fulfil an educational role, fostering greater awareness and understanding of sustainable development in the general public, thereby helping making better government environmental policies more effective.

The activities in preparation for WSSD made the public aware of the ongoing concern for sustainable development, creating an new initiative / drive forwards the fulfilment of the Agenda 21 objectives in the Western Regions of China.